"MATURE MANHOOD!"

Ephesians 4:11-14                            (ESV)
"11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of CHRIST,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the SON of GOD, to "MATURE MANHOOD", to the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."



There are times when I am inclined to study a certain subject in the Bible, and when my search for those scripture leads me to other verses, when I see them, I know that is where GOD wants to speak to me from at this time.  This morning is a day like that.  Hearing a good sermon can be one of the most helpful and inspiring things a person can experience.  Other gifts and talents are too numerous to list, but until we know what we are SET ASIDE to accomplish for the Kingdom of GOD, there will be no peace and contentment.  When GOD chooses to reveal "your mission" to you, nothing else will seem to matter.

In the scriptures above, GOD informs us that there are several different tasks that must be performed for the bride of CHRIST to be equipped, so we won't have to always be "children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."  HE lists "apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers", but there are other functions that MUST be performed for the BODY to function properly, for it to reach "MATURE MANHOOD"!

GOD may not have listed a definitive slot for what HE has called you to do in the passage above.  In the movie "WAR ROOM", Miss Clara was one of the most powerful and effective PRAYER WARRIORS (not a preacher, or missionary, or other glamorous titles), but she didn't get there overnight.  She lost her husband earlier in life and had to complete raising a son on her own.  Nobody knows what GOD has in store for their life.  But we know GOD works ALL THINGS together for good, for those who are called according to HIS purpose (Romans 8:28)!  Regardless of what GOD leads you to accomplish for HIM, know that HE will equip you to perform the task HE requires you to perform.

There are many different things, and a lot of them are good things, that may entice us to either add to, or do differently, that which GOD had instructed us to do.  A oft used phrase from many years ago says "When in doubt, DON'T!"  If GOD has given you a Plan, the enemy will do anything he can to insert an alteration to that Plan.  It takes a person of "MATURE MANHOOD" to do ONLY what GOD has directed at EXACTLY the time GOD is directing!  Just because GOD leads you across the Red Sea doesn't mean your journey is complete.  To reach Promised Land it will take someone who has reached "MATURE MANHOOD"!!!